Healthcare

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a group or individual policy of accident and health insurance or a managed care plan that is amended, delivered, issued, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027 shall provide coverage for one crib and one car seat for each postpartum individual covered under the policy. Provides that the postpartum individual must be covered by the insurance policy at the time of child birth and must submit a claim within 6 months after the birth. Provides that the insurer must either reimburse the postpartum individual for the purchase of an approved crib and car seat upon submission of a valid receipt or provide a car seat and crib to the postpartum individual that complies with all federal and State safety standards. Amends the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971, the Counties Code, the Illinois Municipal Code, the School Code, the Health Maintenance Organization Act, the Limited Health Service Organization Act, the Voluntary Health Services Plans Act, and the Illinois Public Aid Code to require coverage under those provisions.

Amends the Nursing Mothers in the Workplace Act. Changes the name of the Act to the Nursing in the Workplace Act. Provides that an employee who has been denied any rights under the Act may bring an action to enjoin future denials of those rights. Provides that, if the employee prevails in that action, the employee shall be awarded reasonable attorney's fees and costs. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Amends the Telehealth Act. Adds acupuncturist to providers included in the meaning of "health care professional". Amends the Acupuncture Practice Act. Provides that the standard of care for a patient under the Act shall be the same whether a patient is seen in person, through telemedicine, or through another method of electronically-enabled health care. Requires the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, by rule, to determine the appropriate acupuncture services allowed via telemedicine in consultation with the Board of Acupuncture. Provides that a person who engages in the practice of telemedicine without a license issued under the Act shall be subject to the penalties provided in the Act. Provides that, if the Department has reason to believe that a person has violated the provisions regarding telemedicine, the Department may issue a rule to show cause stating the reasons why an order to cease and desist should not be entered against the person. Provides that the rule shall clearly set forth the grounds relied upon by the Department and shall provide the person with a period of 7 days after the date of the rule to file an answer to the satisfaction of the Department. Provides that failure to answer to the satisfaction of the Department shall cause an order to cease and desist to be issued immediately. Provides that a person residing out-of-state that provides services through telemedicine to a patient residing in the State submits himself or herself to the jurisdiction of the Department and the courts of the State.

Amends the Medical Assistance Article of the Illinois Public Aid Code. Requires the Department of Healthcare and Family Services to file an amendment to the Home and Community-Based Services Waiver Program for Adults with Developmental Disabilities that removes the 5 hour per day billing maximums placed on providers of community day services. The amendment shall not modify monthly and yearly billing maximums for providers of community day services. Effective January 1, 2026.

Amends the Assisted Living and Shared Housing Act. Makes changes to assessments for admission to establishments and service plan requirements. Requires an establishment to notify the resident and the resident's representative when there is a significant change in the resident's condition that affects the establishment's ability to meet the resident's needs. Prohibits an establishment from terminating or reducing any service without the consent of the resident or the resident's representative for the purpose of making it more difficult or impossible for the resident to remain in the establishment. Adds new requirements for establishments and the Department of Public Health regarding the involuntary termination of residency. Provides that a resident has the right to not be unlawfully transferred or discharged. Makes other changes. Amends the Nursing Home Care Act. Prohibits a resident from being transferred or discharged in violation of the Act. Provides that a resident has the right not to be unlawfully transferred or discharged. Provides for the assessment of a $2,500 fine for a facility that fails to comply with an order to readmit a resident who wishes to return to the facility and is appropriate for that level of care and services provided. Requires a facility that complies with an order to readmit a resident that has been deemed to have been unlawfully discharged to notify the Department within 10 business days after the resident has been readmitted to the facility. Provides that a facility may involuntarily transfer or discharge a resident because the facility is unable to meet the medical needs of the resident, as documented in the resident's clinical record by the resident's physician. Provides that the Department maintains jurisdiction over the transfer or discharge irrespective of the timing of the notice and discharge. Provides that if the Department determines that a transfer or discharge is not authorized, then the Department shall issue a written decision stating that the transfer or discharge is denied. Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

Appropriates $250,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for grants to be paid to the Chicago Transit Authority to pay for an ambulance equipped with advanced life-saving (ALS) capabilities and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel at the Forest Park Blue Line terminal located at 711 Des Plaines Avenue. Effective July 1, 2025.

Amends the Youth Mental Health Protection Act. Changes the name of the Act to the Conversion Therapy Prohibition Act. Provides that the General Assembly finds and declares Illinois has a compelling interest in protecting the physical and psychological well-being of all lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals in this State and in protecting such individuals against exposure to serious harms caused by sexual orientation change efforts, also known as conversion therapy. Provides that under no circumstances shall a mental health provider engage in sexual orientation change efforts with any person in this State. Provides that any sexual orientation change efforts attempted on any person in this State by a mental health provider may be considered unprofessional conduct. Provides that mental health providers found to have engaged in a sexual orientation change effort on a patient may be subject to discipline by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation or the disciplinary review board with competent jurisdiction. Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation may revoke, suspend, place on probation, reprimand, refuse to renew, or take any other disciplinary action it deems warranted with regard to the license of any mental health provider issued by the Department upon a finding that the mental health provider offers or conducts conversion therapy services in violation of the Conversion Therapy Prohibition Act.

Creates the Hospitals and Homelessness Support Act. Requires the Office to Prevent and End Homelessness within the Department of Human Services to maintain on its publicly accessible website information on how a hospital or healthcare system may connect a patient experiencing homelessness or otherwise in a vulnerable housing situation with shelter and homeless support services for each continuum of care in the State. Requires the Department to ensure that the information required includes, for each continuum of care, any phone number, email address, physical address, primary agencies, or any other information that may be necessary for a person in that continuum of care territory to begin accessing shelter or other homelessness services. Requires the Department to include, where possible, a specific phone number that a hospital or health care facility may call and specific language to use. Requires the Department to also include on its website a way for the hospital or healthcare system to determine which continuum of care applies based on the physical location of the hospital or healthcare system. Requires other information, all of which must be added to the Department's website by October 31, 2025. Contains provisions concerning annual audits.

Amends the Pharmacy Practice Act and the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. Provides that any authorized employee (instead of an advanced practice registered nurse, practical nurse, registered nurse, or physician) of an organization that provides hospice services to a hospice patient or that provides home health services to a person may receive a patient's prescription orders, including controlled substances, and deliver the prescription orders to the patient.

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Provides that the Department of Human Services is authorized to implement and administer the 9-8-8 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline system in compliance with the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020, the Federal Communication Commission's rules adopted to administer the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020, and national guidelines for crisis care. Amends the State Finance Act. In provisions concerning the Statewide 9-8-8 Trust Fund, provides that the Fund is administered by the Department of Human Services. Defines "statewide 9-8-8 suicide prevention and mental health crisis system". Amends the Telecommunications Excise Tax Act. Increases the rate of tax on interstate and intrastate telecommunications from 7% to 8.65%. Provides that the 1.65% increase in the rate shall be designated as the "statewide 9-8-8 surcharge" and is established to support and enhance the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in compliance with the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020. Sets forth the distribution of proceeds from the tax imposed under the Act. Effective immediately.